The present disclosure involves preventing unauthorized recording of visual content displayed on an electronic device. Via a mobile computing device, it is detected that a user is attempting to digitally record visual content being displayed on a screen of the mobile computing device. Via the mobile computing device, at least one of the following actions is performed in response to the detecting: obfuscating the visual content; restarting the mobile computing device before the visual content is recorded; playing a loud audio signal via the mobile computing device before the visual content is recorded; and temporarily disabling a screenshot function of the mobile computing device.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A method, comprising: detecting, via a mobile computing device, that a user is attempting to digitally record visual content being displayed on a screen of the mobile computing device, wherein the detecting comprises detecting that the user is attempting to screenshot the visual content via the mobile computing device; and performing, via the mobile computing device, at least one of the following actions in response to the detecting: obfuscating the visual content; restarting the mobile computing device before the visual content is recorded; playing a loud audio signal via the mobile computing device before the visual content is recorded; and temporarily disabling a screenshot function of the mobile computing device.
A mobile device detects when a user tries to digitally record content displayed on the screen, specifically by detecting screenshot attempts. In response, the device performs at least one of these actions: blurring or changing the displayed content, restarting itself before the recording finishes, playing a loud noise, or temporarily disabling the screenshot function. This prevents unauthorized capture of the screen's visuals.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the visual content includes a picture or a video.
The anti-recording method described above, where a mobile device detects and prevents digital recording, applies when the displayed content is a picture or a video. The device detects a recording attempt, such as a screenshot, and responds by obfuscating the content, restarting, playing a loud sound, or disabling screenshots, specifically targeting image and video content.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the detecting comprises: detecting, via a first camera of the mobile computing device, that the user is attempting to record a picture or a video of the visual content by using a second camera external to the mobile computing device to record the visual content displayed on the mobile computing device.
In the anti-recording method, the mobile device uses its front or rear camera to detect if another camera (external to the device) is being used to record the screen's content (picture or video). If the mobile device detects this external recording attempt, it responds by obfuscating the content, restarting, playing a loud sound, or disabling screenshots to prevent unauthorized recording.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the obfuscating comprises at least one of the following: temporarily darkening the screen, temporarily discoloring the screen, replacing the visual content with a predetermined image, or distorting the visual content.
When the mobile device obfuscates the screen content to prevent unauthorized recording, it can do so by temporarily darkening the screen, changing the screen's colors, replacing the content with a pre-set image, or distorting the displayed content. This obfuscation happens in response to detecting a recording attempt, such as a screenshot, and aims to make the recording useless.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the obfuscating is performed before and until the visual content is actually recorded by the mobile computing device such that an actually recorded visual content is obfuscated.
The obfuscation of the screen content, used to prevent unauthorized recording, starts before the recording actually happens and continues until the recording stops. This ensures that the final recorded content is also obfuscated, making it unreadable or unusable. The device detects a recording attempt, and the obfuscation persists throughout the recording process.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the obfuscating comprises obfuscating an actually recorded visual content that is stored in an electronic storage component of the mobile computing device.
The obfuscation of screen content isn't limited to what's currently displayed. It can also obfuscate the *already recorded* content that's stored within the mobile device's memory. So, even if a recording was successfully made before detection, the device can still scramble or alter that stored recording to prevent unauthorized use.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: notifying a remote entity that the user has attempted to digitally record the visual content, wherein the notifying comprises sending the remote entity a digital copy of the visual content that is actually recorded by the mobile computing device.
In addition to the immediate actions (obfuscating, restarting, sound, disabling screenshots), the mobile device can also notify a remote server when a user attempts to record the screen. This notification can include a copy of the recorded content (if any was successfully captured) sent to the remote server for analysis or logging.
8. A mobile computing device, comprising: a screen configured to display visual content; an electronic memory storage component configured to store computing programming instructions; and one or more electronic processors configured to executed the programming instructions to perform the following steps: detecting that a user of the mobile computing device is attempting to digitally record visual content being displayed on the screen, wherein the detecting comprises detecting that the user is attempting to screenshot the visual content via the mobile computing device; and performing, via the mobile computing device, at least one of the following actions in response to the detecting: obfuscating the visual content; restarting the mobile computing device before the visual content is recorded; playing a loud audio signal via the mobile computing device before the visual content is recorded; and temporarily disabling a screenshot function of the mobile computing device.
A mobile device has a screen for displaying content and uses its processor to detect when a user tries to digitally record that content (specifically detecting screenshot attempts). If a recording attempt is detected, the device can: blur/change the displayed content, restart itself, play a loud sound, or temporarily disable the screenshot function. These actions prevent unauthorized screen recording.
9. The mobile computing device of claim 8 , wherein the visual content includes a picture or a video.
The mobile device described above, designed to prevent unauthorized recording, is effective when the displayed content is a picture or a video. The device uses its processor to detect recording attempts (like screenshots) and then takes countermeasures (obfuscation, restart, sound, screenshot disabling) to protect the image or video displayed on the screen.
10. The mobile computing device of claim 8 , wherein the detecting comprises: detecting, via a first camera of the mobile computing device, that the user is attempting to record a picture or a video of the visual content by using a second camera external to the mobile computing device to record the visual content displayed on the mobile computing device.
The mobile device uses its own camera to detect if another camera is being used to record its screen content (picture or video). If it detects this external camera recording, it responds by obfuscating the content, restarting, playing a loud sound, or disabling screenshots to prevent unauthorized copying of what's on the screen.
11. The mobile computing device of claim 8 , wherein the obfuscating comprises at least one of the following: temporarily darkening the screen, temporarily discoloring the screen, replacing the visual content with a predetermined image, or distorting the visual content.
The mobile device can obfuscate the screen to prevent recording in several ways: temporarily darkening it, changing its colors, replacing the content with a pre-set image, or distorting the displayed content. These obfuscation methods are triggered when the device detects a recording attempt, aiming to render the recording useless.
12. The mobile computing device of claim 8 , wherein the obfuscating is performed before and until the visual content is actually recorded by the mobile computing device such that an actually recorded visual content is obfuscated.
The obfuscation of the screen content starts as soon as a recording attempt is detected and continues until the recording stops. This ensures that the entire recorded video or image is also obfuscated, making it unreadable or unusable. The mobile device's goal is to prevent a clean, unauthorized recording.
13. The mobile computing device of claim 8 , wherein the obfuscating comprises obfuscating an actually recorded visual content that is stored in the electronic memory storage component.
The mobile device can also obfuscate previously recorded content already stored in its memory. Even if a user managed to capture something before the anti-recording measures kicked in, the device can still scramble or alter that saved file to prevent its unauthorized use or distribution.
14. The mobile computing device of claim 8 , wherein the steps further comprise: notifying a remote entity that the user has attempted to digitally record the visual content, wherein the notifying comprises sending the remote entity a digital copy of the visual content that is actually recorded by the mobile computing device.
The mobile device also notifies a remote server if a user attempts to record the screen. This notification can include a copy of the (potentially obfuscated) recorded content sent to the server. This allows for tracking and analysis of unauthorized recording attempts.
15. A system, comprising: an electronic memory storage component configured to store computing programming instructions; and one or more electronic processors configured to executed the programming instructions to perform the following steps: detecting that a user of a mobile computing device is attempting to digitally record visual content being displayed on a screen of the mobile computing device, wherein the detecting comprises detecting that the user is attempting to use the mobile computing device to take a screenshot of the visual content, and wherein the visual content includes a picture or a video; and causing at least one of the following actions to be performed in response to the detecting: obfuscating the visual content; restarting the mobile computing device before the visual content is recorded; playing a loud audio signal via the mobile computing device before the visual content is recorded; and temporarily disabling a screenshot function of the mobile computing device.
A system with a processor detects when someone is trying to digitally record content displayed on a mobile device screen, specifically detecting screenshot attempts of pictures or videos. In response, the system triggers at least one of these actions: blurring/changing the displayed content, restarting the device, playing a loud sound from the device, or temporarily disabling the screenshot function on the device.
16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the detecting comprises: detecting, via a first camera of the mobile computing device, that the user is attempting to record a picture or a video of the visual content by using a second camera external to the mobile computing device to record the visual content displayed on the mobile computing device.
The system detects unauthorized recording attempts by using the mobile device's camera to see if another (external) camera is pointed at the screen to record the visual content. If an external recording device is detected, the system activates countermeasures like content obfuscation, device restart, loud audio playback, or screenshot disabling.
17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the obfuscating comprises at least one of the following: temporarily darkening the screen, temporarily discoloring the screen, replacing the visual content with a predetermined image, or distorting the visual content.
When the system obfuscates content, it can do so by temporarily darkening the screen, changing the colors on the screen, replacing the content with a predetermined image, or distorting the content. These methods aim to prevent a clear recording of the original visual content.
18. The system of claim 15 , wherein the obfuscating is performed before and until the visual content is actually recorded by the mobile computing device such that an actually recorded visual content is obfuscated.
The system's content obfuscation starts before the recording actually happens and continues until the recording stops, ensuring that the recorded content is also obfuscated. This prevents the user from obtaining a clean, unauthorized copy of the screen's display.
19. The system of claim 15 , wherein the obfuscating comprises obfuscating an actually recorded visual content that is stored in the electronic memory storage component.
The system can also obfuscate already-recorded visual content that is stored on the mobile device. This means that even if a recording was successfully made before the system detected the attempt, the system can still alter the saved file to prevent unauthorized use or distribution.
20. The system of claim 15 , wherein the steps further comprise: notifying a remote entity that the user has attempted to digitally record the visual content, wherein the notifying comprises sending the remote entity a digital copy of the visual content that is actually recorded by the mobile computing device.
The system can also notify a remote server when it detects an attempted recording. This notification can include a copy of the recorded content (even if it's obfuscated) for analysis and tracking of unauthorized usage.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
February 26, 2015
August 22, 2017
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